Our first night on the Galapagos‘ San Cristobal Island saw us, rather predictably, at a bar. Amidst a backdrop of reggae music, we set about complimenting our drinks with a game ofĀ magnetic darts. Yes – magnetic darts, not your standard issue spike-tipped things. One can only presume that this non-spike approach is a nod to the Galapagos’ valuable commitment to animal welfare: no harpoons, of any size, here.

With its picturesque beaches and beautiful blue waters, Ashok Solanki discovers that there are few more delectable places to unwind than the exotic ‘Spice Island’ of Zanzibar…

“One can smell the spices in the air, even though the island itself is still not in sight. It is said that in the old days pilots followed the scent of the spices to locate this tiny speck in the Indian Ocean. The ferry from Dar es Salaam takes just over 2 hours, but when you land on Zanzibar you step back in time to an, as yet, unspoilt and little-known paradise.